2020 AHL State of the league from ASG

LadyStanley

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Sep 22, 2004
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Golden Knights interested in bringing AHL team to Las Vegas

Summary of AHL President Dave Andrews' speech. (Last before he retires in June)

What has been rumored for a few months, is now confirmed: VGK owner Foley (et al) looking to purchase AHL franchise and relocate it to Las Vegas Valley. Would like to do this for next season. Further details (Paywall):


Update on Palm Spring (Seattle's AHL affiliate).

CBA change to veteran rules (going by age 25+ rather than # of games - which gave NCAA players a break as they usually start later than kids from junior at age 20).
 
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gstommylee

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Wonder how the alignment will look once Vegas acquires the AHL team and moves them to vegas.
 

LadyStanley

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Wonder how the alignment will look once Vegas acquires the AHL team and moves them to vegas.

Pacific (probably): San Jose, Stockton, Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego, Palm Springs, Vegas, Tucson.

Colorado might get included as 9th team just for geographic reasons.
 

gstommylee

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Pacific (probably): San Jose, Stockton, Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego, Palm Springs, Vegas, Tucson.

Colorado might get included as 9th team just for geographic reasons.

I doubt they'll have have a 9 team in a single division. Makes no sense. We have no idea which team ends up moving to vegas of the independently owned AHL teams. So there might be a little realignment.
 

LadyStanley

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Foley apparently negotiating with two different owners.

One speculation is that Chicago will sell Rockford and move to the Wolves.
 

Barclay Donaldson

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Foley apparently negotiating with two different owners.

One speculation is that Chicago will sell Rockford and move to the Wolves.

Rockford is not Chicago's to sell. Rockford IceHogs are owned by the city of Rockford. The city has been vocal about how much of an economic boost the IceHogs are to the city. The Blackhawks have also been vocal about loving the relationship, and the Blackhawks have been unwaveringly loyal to the IceHogs since they entered the league in '07.

The Wolves and their fanbase have lived their entire existence hating the Blackhawks. They are the only true anti-establishment team left in the AHL. I would be beyond shocked if the Blackhawks would switch from an affiliate they love, where they control who plays and have had excellent development, to one that has spewed hatred towards them since their inception since '94 and would force them to put their prospect development in the backseat under the priority of winning the Calder Cup each season.
 

JMCx4

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I'm not inclined to believe the Henderson twist in this story. Looks to me like that facility along with City National Arena (both involving VGK) are being patterned after the Nashville approach of smaller two-sheet ice complexes in different parts of the metro to anchor retail developments & grow youth hockey in the region & draw some youth thru college tournament bookings. Not that the Henderson plans couldn't change, but the project land approved by the city last year was only 3.2 acres. Not much room to grow the building for a mid-sized arena. :dunno:
 
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gstommylee

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Of course Utica is going lose it's team eventually, probably sooner than later.

Unlikely it will be with this deal, though.

problem with that is now with vegas looking to have one in vegas then if Vancouver moves theirs west then you end up having 10 teams in pacific. Two of which has to play in the central division 1 being Colorado so who's going to be the other team.
 

Barclay Donaldson

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problem with that is now with vegas looking to have one in vegas then if Vancouver moves theirs west then you end up having 10 teams in pacific. Two of which has to play in the central division 1 being Colorado so who's going to be the other team.

Tuscon could easily make the switch. Phoenix is already moving to the Central Division when Seattle joins the league, and the plan for the AHL has been matching up the NHL in a 1-1 affiliation that follows similar alignment.
 

gstommylee

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Tuscon could easily make the switch. Phoenix is already moving to the Central Division when Seattle joins the league, and the plan for the AHL has been matching up the NHL in a 1-1 affiliation that follows similar alignment.

Oh yea Forgot vancouver has theirs AHL in the east coast so a team has to move to central and one team has to move to the eastern division that Utica is at.
 

gstommylee

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That's cute. This is the same league that caters to the Pacific Division by allowing them to play 8 less games than the rest of the league.

And the AHL has said Seattle's AHL team plays in the pacific to have it match alignment of the NHL 8-8-8-8. They aren't going to have uneven division.
 

Barclay Donaldson

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Oh yea Forgot vancouver has theirs AHL in the east coast so a team has to move to central and one team has to move to the eastern division that Utica is at.

Grand Rapids can move over so the entire league can have the same intense explosion of pure joy and emotion that the NHL had when they finally got the Red Wings out of the Western Division after so many years of trying.

The AHL will get realigned if Vegas gets their way. There an easy fix for no matter what happens. Keep in mind, like AF24 said, the league already caters to the Pacific Division by making them play fewer games. Divisional alignment is not going to be an issue.
 

AdmiralsFan24

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They also aren't going to have it be 10-7-8-7 either. its ridiculous to think that the AHL will suddenly be fine with uneven divisions for alignment.

SUDDENLY BE FINE? Five years ago they had an 8 team division in the East, a 7 team division in the East, an 8 team division in the West and a 7 team division in the West that had two teams play 76 games and the rest play 68. You seriously think they wouldn't do a 9-8-8-7 division or something like that?
 

gstommylee

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SUDDENLY BE FINE? Five years ago they had an 8 team division in the East, a 7 team division in the East, an 8 team division in the West and a 7 team division in the West that had two teams play 76 games and the rest play 68. You seriously think they wouldn't do a 9-8-8-7 division or something like that?

And yet as of now its going to be 8-8-8-8 once Palm Springs joins. The alignment currently is 7-8-8-8 for a reason. They want it to be the same even division number that of the NHL. If you disagree with that then go tell the AHL on what the alignment should be.
 

AdmiralsFan24

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And yet as of now its going to be 8-8-8-8 once Palm Springs joins. The alignment currently is 7-8-8-8 for a reason. They want it to be the same even division number that of the NHL. If you disagree with that then go tell the AHL on what the alignment should be.

I don't disagree with it. I'm saying you acting like there's no chance they go 9-8-8-7 or something is ridiculous considering the AHL's recent history of doing stupid shit.
 

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